Tom Watson and Sadiq Khan decry Labour ‘antisemitism’ after Panorama probe July 11, 2019 Prominent Labour figures were left aghast last night after a BBC investigation claimed people at the top of the party had minimised complaints of antisemitisim against its members. Deputy leader Tom Watson and London mayor Sadiq Khan were among those who spoke out after the allegations, which implicated general secretary Jennie Formby and communications director [...]
DEBATE: Should ambassadors be political appointments? July 11, 2019 Following Sir Kim Darroch’s resignation, should ambassadors be political appointments? Olivia Utley, deputy editor at TheArticle, says YES. To repair a special relationship which has gone – to put it mildly – a little sour, the new Prime Minister needs to appoint a special kind of ambassador. Sir Kim, who spent most of his career [...]
Jeremy Corbyn’s office DID assess antisemitism complaints, whistleblowers tell BBC Panorama July 10, 2019 Batches of antisemitism complaints were assessed by staff working in Jeremy Corbyn’s office – despite claims the Labour leader and his team had no involvement in the process, it has been revealed. BBC’s Panorama programme will broadcast claims on Wednesday evening that there was an order from the leader’s office to bring details of antisemitism [...]
Sadiq Khan on course to miss another housing target, critics claim July 10, 2019 Sadiq Khan is on course to miss one of his key housing targets, critics have claimed, after new figures show that just over 300 homes have been built on land owned by Transport for London (TfL). In May 2016, TfL said it had set a target to build 10,000 homes by 2020. However, new figures [...]
Sir Kim Darroch quits as UK ambassador to US in wake of leaked Trump emails July 10, 2019 Sir Kim Darroch has resigned from his post as UK ambassador to the US, saying his leaked about President Donald Trump have made it “impossible” to continue in his role. Darroch’s leaked emails sparked a diplomatic row between the UK and US as Trump lashed back at the envoy’s criticisms before Prime Minister Theresa May [...]
Take two: Ex-Change UK MPs forge new alliance called The Independents July 10, 2019 A splinter group of MPs who were part of Change UK have embarked on another rebranding, forming a new political alliance called The Independents. Read more: All Change UK: Tory and Labour MPs disband after election failure Four MPs have founded a so-called “co-operative of independent politicians” after quitting Change UK early last month, when [...]
UK ambassador ‘thrown to the wolves’ over Trump leaks, says Sir John Major July 10, 2019 Former Tory Prime Minister Sir John Major has said the UK’s ambassador to the US, Sir Kim Darroch, has been “thrown to the wolves” following leaked emails in which the diplomat criticised Donald Trump. Major issued a strong defence of Darroch and said the government should keep him in post even if it meant a [...]
Blue on blue: Three key talking points from the Conservative leadership debate July 10, 2019 It’s that time again. The Tory leadership race is reaching its zenith, and the final two candidates last night took part in the first of several televised Conservative leadership debate head-to-heads as Tories choose the next Prime Minister. Read more: Can Boris Johnson turbocharge the UK economy? In a spirited and at times ill-tempered affair, [...]
John Major vows to seek judicial review to avoid parliament closure July 10, 2019 Former prime minister John Major has threatened to seek a judicial review if Britain’s next leader sought to suspend parliament to proceed with a no-deal Brexit. Read more: Boris can deliver a bold economic vision for UK, says Remainer MP Calling any such suspension “utterly and totally unacceptable”, Major told BBC Radio 4’s Today programme [...]
Boris Johnson can deliver a bolder economic vision for Britain July 10, 2019 Brexit Britain is at an impasse. Half-in, half-out, with our politics gridlocked, we are now in serious danger of undermining our traditional attractiveness as a magnet for global investment. This week’s quarterly survey of FTSE CFOs by Deloitte shows that 83 per cent expect the UK’s economic prospects to worsen as a result of Brexit [...]